Gaming’s Greatest Sea Monsters

We land-lubbers don’t like to admit it, but let’s be honest, the sea is a terrifying place. There’s a good reason why some of the scariest horror stories are based around the ocean (see Jaws, Lovecraft) – we humans fear the unknown and there’s a lot we don’t know about the briny deep. As such, there are plenty of fearsome sea-dwelling beasts in video gaming. Here are seven such monsters that had us drowning in fear.

Tame creatures of the deep in Fishing Sim World Pro Tour

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Del Lago – Resident Evil 4

If you thought you could escape Resident Evil 4’s oppressive setting with a tranquil trip to the lake, you were sorely mistaken. In those waters lurks the giant monster, Del Lago, who appears to be some sort of alligator that has been taken over by the Las Plagas. Chuck harpoons at it’s mouth to take it down.

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Maw Ray – Super Mario 64

Every kid loved exploring the Mushroom Kingdom in Super Mario 64 – at least until this man-eating terror showed his face. The combination of those deadly teeth and those emotionless eyes gave us chills every time.

The Hydrus – Shadow of the Colossus

This artful classic is renowned for its epic boss battles, and one of the most memorable is the eel-like monster, the Hydrus. This giant creature uses the deadly combination of electricity and water to pose certain doom for our hero. Hold on tight to it’s back to survive.
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Hydra – God of War (2005)

Not to be confused with the previous entry, the Hydra is a classic Greek monster who appears in the very first God of War game to test the mettle of our hero Kratos. Be wary of cutting off its head(s).

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Leviathan – Gears of War 2

If you thought Earth’s oceans were scary, wait until you see what lies in wait for you on the planet Sera. This enormous megalodon is encountered while exploring the Locusts’ underground lair, so stock up on ammo and be ready for a close-quarters fight.

Emerald Weapon – Final Fantasy VII

The Emerald Weapon is a super boss you can fight during the endgame of the original Final Fantasy VII. As optional bosses go, this is one of the toughest in the series, due in no small part to the 20-minute time limit you have before your party runs out of air. Which is quite a long time, if you think about it. Cloud must have some strong lungs on him. We don’t yet know if Emerald Weapon will show up in the Remake, but if he does we recommend you have every summon in Final Fantasy VII Remake on hand before you face him.

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Kraken – Sea of Thieves

The Kraken is the quintessential sea monster, and has appeared throughout folklore and popular fiction for centuries. Perhaps his most memorable appearance in gaming is in the multiplayer pirate-’em-up Sea of Thieves. You’ll need to have a well-coordinated crew to survive an attack from this creature.

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